ANTHROPOLOGY and social welfare in the Peruvian Amazon

Stuart Rawlings, an anthropologist, writes:

"While doing Ph.D. field work on Indians of the Peruvian Amazon, I was
often struck by the conflict between anthropology and social welfare. The
anthropology side of me bemoaned the steady disappearance of tribal
cultures and wanted to isolate all of Peru's remaining 65 tribes. My social
welfare side supported the massive introduction of medicine, mosquito nets,
and basic hygiene education. The many Indians I interviewed were almost
unanimous in desiring more contact with the modern world --in the form of
jobs, schools, trade, electricity, radio and television, money, food, etc.

Peru's Indians have not yet experienced the kind of liberation and
corresponding ethnic pride which we have here in America. There has been no
Chief Joseph, Sitting Bull or Dennis Banks to resist the mental and
physical encroachments of the white man. My hope is that somehow Peru's
Indians can develop more of an interest in their culture, while at the same
time availing themselves of the comforts and healthy aspects of ours."

My comment: In the Highland, that pride exists, witness the Tupac Amaru and
presidential candidate Alejandro Toledo. As Stuart points out, regardless
of this, Indians want the advantages of modern civilization.